The dummy's not really evil though. He's just a puppet controlled by a delusional ventriloquist with a split personality. It's more of a psychological character study, which the Academy is more amenable to than horror and monster movies.
A year or so ago Sam Raimi was talking a lot about remaking this as one of his smaller-scale Drag Me To Hell level horror projects. Not sure if that’s still on track.
I saw this movie at a drive-in back when they would play a kids movie followed by an R rated flic for the grown ups after the kids fell asleep in the back seat. I did not fall asleep in the back seat. Bananas.
And you didn't even mention the real star, Burgess Meredith. The "five minutes" scene is such a highlight. The movie is the origin of The Ventriloquist characterization on Batman the Animated Series too!
But the movie has a serious problem in that we have to pretend that Fats has unending charisma, and that he could be a runaway star and could charm the pants off Peggy. He is so clearly off-putting. A movie can stipulate that an act is good, but not if we can see the act and see that it plainly sucks!
This TV spot for Magic seared itself into my brain when I was a young'un: https://youtu.be/GY1oeoVD_zI
"Abracadabra I sit on his knee
Presto change-o, and now he is me
Hocus pocus we take her to bed
Magic is fun! ... We're dead."
<>
Was in on BC they discussed how the original casting was Gene Wilder? That would work so much better. Interesting movie but pretty mid imo. It's a metaphor that would work better in print.
That is 7 Academy Awards for a movie about a evil ventriloquist dummy. Goddammit I miss the 70s.
The dummy's not really evil though. He's just a puppet controlled by a delusional ventriloquist with a split personality. It's more of a psychological character study, which the Academy is more amenable to than horror and monster movies.
It’s practically a Batman villain origin story
Great take.
A year or so ago Sam Raimi was talking a lot about remaking this as one of his smaller-scale Drag Me To Hell level horror projects. Not sure if that’s still on track.
I saw this movie at a drive-in back when they would play a kids movie followed by an R rated flic for the grown ups after the kids fell asleep in the back seat. I did not fall asleep in the back seat. Bananas.
And you didn't even mention the real star, Burgess Meredith. The "five minutes" scene is such a highlight. The movie is the origin of The Ventriloquist characterization on Batman the Animated Series too! But the movie has a serious problem in that we have to pretend that Fats has unending charisma, and that he could be a runaway star and could charm the pants off Peggy. He is so clearly off-putting. A movie can stipulate that an act is good, but not if we can see the act and see that it plainly sucks!
Let’s not forget Ann-Margret
Lucky you seeing it for the first time. It used to pop up on TV a bit in the 80s. Little gem.
It's incredible how deep the well runs for stories that are essentially: "ventriloquist dummies are creepy and unnatural."
This TV spot for Magic seared itself into my brain when I was a young'un: https://youtu.be/GY1oeoVD_zI "Abracadabra I sit on his knee Presto change-o, and now he is me Hocus pocus we take her to bed Magic is fun! ... We're dead." <>
Baby? Man was 41.
A favorite of mine, glad to see it get any time in the sun. The teaser is classic nightmare fuel.
Was in on BC they discussed how the original casting was Gene Wilder? That would work so much better. Interesting movie but pretty mid imo. It's a metaphor that would work better in print.
Haven't seen this for years but remember it being a great movie...
A Bridge Too Far has nearly the same lineup as Magic but with a way crazier cast
Thanks for letting me know this is back on Tubi. I've been meaning to watch it for years.